Lady Blackwood’s Black Tea

“Rising from his kneel, the servant picks up the iron teapot from the center of the table and pours the dark, blackish, tea into her cup. It’s thicker than water and comes out slow. He’s careful not to spill a drop of the steaming liquid as he fills the cup to the rim. All the servants know to pour her tea to the rim. For they know that she never taints the taste of black tea with the likes of cream and sugar.”

Considered the signature drink of House Blackwood, black tea was created in 2322 AS after House Blackwood and the Applani Kingdom agreed to trade with each other. This led to House Blackwood giving the Applani Kingdom iron sword and shields, while they received the spices needed in order to create black tea, such as cinnamon, anise seeds, and cardamon seeds.

Ingredients (serves 6-8 glasses)

12 Cups of Water

1 Cup of Dark Molasses

3 Sticks of Cinnamon

8 Whole Anise Seeds

1 Small Handful of Cloves

1/2 Cup of Honey

1 Small Handful of Dried Willow Tree Roots

1 Pinch of Cardamon Seeds

3 Sticks of Dried Licorice

Directions

Place a cauldron over a fire and allow it to become hot to the touch.

Add in the anise seeds, the cloves, the dried willow tree roots, the aniseeds, and the cardamon seeds. Allow the spices to cook in the cauldron until their outer skin have slightly darkened and are emanating a rich smell of spice.

Remove the roasted spices and set them aside in a bowl.

Into the cauldron, add the water, the dark molasses, and the honey. Cook uncovered for an hour before adding the dried licorice and the cinnamon sticks.

Add in the roasted spices and continue to cook uncovered until the liquid has reduced by a 1/4 of the size.

When finished, remove the roasted and dried spices from the cauldron. You can discard them to the pigs.

Serve with sweet cream and sugar or plain.

“Yes”, said Taiya, softly. The younger woman’s smile widens and she takes a small bite of fig bread slathered in thick sweet butter. Her friend loves her sweet butter. Almost as much as she loves her black tea. “You’re right, my lady. You did.”